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Comments on: Community Journalism inside out http://video2zero.com/community-journalism-inside-out/ the business the art and the science of new media Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:09:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: peter http://video2zero.com/community-journalism-inside-out/comment-page-1/#comment-72 peter Mon, 16 Jul 2007 19:15:19 +0000 http://www.shootingbynumbers.com/?p=74#comment-72 <p>Yes I think the old adage"<em>if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all</em>" is in large part the reason for the absence of doubt expressed about the Backfence model</p> <p>Liz George's review was actually what prompted my "backfence failed fast" assertion. The tone of the review was "Seven months in and Backfence is not working". </p> <p>The betting/horse racing analogy is appropriate. No owner can ever really feel that the victory of his horse is assured, whatever they may say. But in this case the "good bet" fell flat on it's face straight out of the starting gate. Only VC funding allowed it to limp round the track a couple of times. </p> <p>Last week <a href="http://www.lostremote.com/2007/07/11/zillow-expands-into-hyperlocal-news/#comments" rel="nofollow">lostremote</a> under the headline "<em>Zillow expands into hyperlocal news</em>" offers the "<strong>big announcement</strong>" that real estate site Zillow is "<em>creating community web pages for 6,500 neighborhoods in 130 U.S. cities</em>".</p> <p><br/></p> <p>Big announcement? Or an overly ambitious press release?</p> <p><br/></p> <p>Lost Remote is not alone in its enthusiasm for this venture, but do they really believe that there is even the remotest chance of Zillow fulfilling the potential they claim for it? I predict Zillow's venture into hyperlocal news will implode even faster than Backfence, and for essentially the same reason.</p> <p><br/></p> <p>Isn't "all shell and no heart" precisely what "scalable models" are about?</p> Yes I think the old adage”if you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything at all” is in large part the reason for the absence of doubt expressed about the Backfence model

Liz George’s review was actually what prompted my “backfence failed fast” assertion. The tone of the review was “Seven months in and Backfence is not working”.

The betting/horse racing analogy is appropriate. No owner can ever really feel that the victory of his horse is assured, whatever they may say. But in this case the “good bet” fell flat on it’s face straight out of the starting gate. Only VC funding allowed it to limp round the track a couple of times.

Last week lostremote under the headline “Zillow expands into hyperlocal news” offers the “big announcement” that real estate site Zillow is “creating community web pages for 6,500 neighborhoods in 130 U.S. cities“.

Big announcement? Or an overly ambitious press release?

Lost Remote is not alone in its enthusiasm for this venture, but do they really believe that there is even the remotest chance of Zillow fulfilling the potential they claim for it? I predict Zillow’s venture into hyperlocal news will implode even faster than Backfence, and for essentially the same reason.

Isn’t “all shell and no heart” precisely what “scalable models” are about?

]]> By: Mindy McAdams http://video2zero.com/community-journalism-inside-out/comment-page-1/#comment-71 Mindy McAdams Fri, 13 Jul 2007 14:52:27 +0000 http://www.shootingbynumbers.com/?p=74#comment-71 I disagree that "No-one expected Backfence to fail." I did, even though I didn't want to seem like a doom-and-gloomer and say so at the time. The basic reason I was skeptical: It was all shell and no heart, no guts. As Jarvis recently said, so simply: "Local is people." That is why Craigslist works, with its ridiculously minimalistic interface. I disagree that “No-one expected Backfence to fail.” I did, even though I didn’t want to seem like a doom-and-gloomer and say so at the time. The basic reason I was skeptical: It was all shell and no heart, no guts. As Jarvis recently said, so simply: “Local is people.” That is why Craigslist works, with its ridiculously minimalistic interface.

]]> By: Jay Rosen http://video2zero.com/community-journalism-inside-out/comment-page-1/#comment-70 Jay Rosen Thu, 12 Jul 2007 02:17:11 +0000 http://www.shootingbynumbers.com/?p=74#comment-70 "Back at its launch in May 2005 it’s success seemed assured - well financed professionals set out to exploit the brave new world of hyperlocal journalism, and return with dazzling riches." I don't think that's true. Certainly the founders did not think their success "assured." I don't know who did. If you had said, "it seemed like a good bet," then yes. But you didn't. In November of 2005 Liz George was asking some of the critical questions. She's an editor with Debbie at Baristanet.com and she wrote her review at PressThink. http://journalism.nyu.edu/pubzone/weblogs/pressthink/2005/11/30/lz_bcfc.html “Back at its launch in May 2005 it’s success seemed assured - well financed professionals set out to exploit the brave new world of hyperlocal journalism, and return with dazzling riches.”

I don’t think that’s true. Certainly the founders did not think their success “assured.” I don’t know who did. If you had said, “it seemed like a good bet,” then yes. But you didn’t.

In November of 2005 Liz George was asking some of the critical questions. She’s an editor with Debbie at Baristanet.com and she wrote her review at PressThink.

http://journalism.nyu.edu/pubzone/weblogs/pressthink/2005/11/30/lz_bcfc.html

]]> By: MichaelP http://video2zero.com/community-journalism-inside-out/comment-page-1/#comment-69 MichaelP Wed, 11 Jul 2007 15:16:57 +0000 http://www.shootingbynumbers.com/?p=74#comment-69 Starting from the needs of the community rather than the needs of the media institutions does create a more promising gestalt. But it does sideline the $64K question. How to create a hyperlocal model that generates profit? Starting from the needs of the community rather than the needs of the media institutions does create a more promising gestalt. But it does sideline the $64K question. How to create a hyperlocal model that generates profit?

]]> By: peter http://video2zero.com/community-journalism-inside-out/comment-page-1/#comment-67 peter Tue, 10 Jul 2007 20:15:36 +0000 http://www.shootingbynumbers.com/?p=74#comment-67 Debbie - yes you are correct, "profit with" rather than "profit from" more accurately reflects the role of the journalist as community insider. Congratulations on your success. Debbie - yes you are correct, “profit with” rather than “profit from” more accurately reflects the role of the journalist as community insider.

Congratulations on your success.

]]> By: Debbie Galant http://video2zero.com/community-journalism-inside-out/comment-page-1/#comment-66 Debbie Galant Tue, 10 Jul 2007 20:02:43 +0000 http://www.shootingbynumbers.com/?p=74#comment-66 True, and I'd say, a community I want to profit with. In addition to local journalist, part of what I've become over the last three years is an expert on local business, marketing and advertising, and a conduit for business people meeting each other. True, and I’d say, a community I want to profit with. In addition to local journalist, part of what I’ve become over the last three years is an expert on local business, marketing and advertising, and a conduit for business people meeting each other.

]]> By: University Update - YouTube - Community Journalism inside out http://video2zero.com/community-journalism-inside-out/comment-page-1/#comment-68 University Update - YouTube - Community Journalism inside out Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:06:04 +0000 http://www.shootingbynumbers.com/?p=74#comment-68 [...] Link to Article youtube Community Journalism inside out » Posted at shooting by numbers - [...] [...] Link to Article youtube Community Journalism inside out » Posted at shooting by numbers - [...]

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